Machine for molding concrete blocks.



PATBNTED OCT. 25, 1904. A

T. PODMOR-E.

MACHINE POR- MOLDING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1w MODEL."

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W IIIIII/ llIIl/l No. 773,099. PATE NTED 001.25, 1904:.

' Ti PODMORE. I

MACHINE FOR MOLDING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14.1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

auuzutop no MODEL.

Witnesses Patented October 25, 1904.

' 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

i THOMAS PODMORE, OF WILKESBARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR-MOLDING CONCRETE BLO CKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,099, dated October 25, 1904.

- Application filed March 14, 1904.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS PODMORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilkesbarre, in thecounty of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Molding Concrete Blocks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inv ing rough concrete building-blocks or thelike, and more particularly to improvements in the machine set forth in my application for patent filed February 8, 1904, and bearing Serial No. 192,593. I

The object of my present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient means for tamping and settling the concrete in the mold while it is being filled from the hopper.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a molding-machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same, taken on a plane indi cated on the line a a of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation of the same.

In the embodiment of my invention here shown a pair of sills suitably spaced apart and embedded in orsecured to asuitable concrete or other foundation are shown at 1. From these sills rise uprights 2, the upper ends of which may be secured to the roof of the. building in which the machine is installed or may be otherwise secured. These uprights form the corner-posts of the main frame.

Between the uprights at one end of the frame is slidably mounted a horizontally-disposed mold 3, which is here shown as of the form adapted for molding a rough hollow concrete building-block. The mold is supported at its ends upon blocks 41, secured to the uprights 2,.and is adapted toslide vertically between smart. 198,130. (No model.)

I said uprights when the contents of the mold is being tamped or packed, as' hereinafter described. The mold is open both on its upper and lower sides, and in the lower side of the mold are plates 4, which form closures therefor and are adapted to be moved vertically therein. A horizontal frame 5 connects the uprights 2 and extends longitudinally of the machine, and on the said frame is mounted a longitudinally-movable traveler 6, which may be moved by any suitable mechanism. For this purpose I here show a rack-bar 7, carried by the traveler, and a pinion 8 on a shaft 9, which has its bearings 10 supported by the frame 5 and is provided with a crank 11, whereby it may be operated. Within the scope of my invention any suitable means may be employed for operating the traveler, and I do not limit myself in this particular.

Below the mold is a vertically -movable hoisting-frame or ejector 12, which is provided with vertical arms 13, whichare adapted to bear under the plates 4 -and to move the latter upwardly anddownwardly in the mold by the movement of the hoisting-frame.

Within the scope of my invention any suitable means may be employedfor operating the hoisting-frame. I here show it provided with a depending bar 14, to which is attached a cord or chain 15, the opposite end of which is attached to a winch or drum 16 or a shaft 17. The latter has its bearings on the sills l and is provided with a sprocket-wheel 18. In the bearing 19, which is secured to one of the uprights 2, is mounted a stub-shaft 20, which has a sprocket-wheel-21 and a crank 22, wherebyit may be revolved. An endless sprocketchain 23 connects the sprocket-wheels 18 and 21, and it will be understood that when the shaft 17 is rotated by turning the shaft 20 the hoisting-frame may be moved upwardly or downwardly, according to the'direction of rotation of said shaft 17 It will be further understood that when the hoisting-frame is moved upwardly it will move the plates 4 with it and cause said plates to raise the molded article fromthe mold and eject the same therefrom. At a suitable distance above the mold is a feed-hopper 24, which may be of any suitable construction;

but I provide it with an elongated verticallydisposed contracted discharge-neck 25, which is disposed above the center of the mold and is of suitable size and shape.

A slide 26 forms a cut-off device for the discharge-neck of the feed-hopper, by means of which the said discharge-neck may be opened or closed to permit of cutting off the discharge of material therefrom. A vertically-movable plunger 27 of suitable size and shape enters the mold from its upper side and compresses the material therein and is disposed to travel vertically on the discharge-neck of the feedhopper, as shown.

WVithin the scope of my invention any suitable means may be employed for operating the plunger. For the purpose of this speciiication I show the same provided with a vertical rack-bar 28, engaged by a pinion 29 of the shaft 30, which has its bearings in one of the uprights 2 and is further provided with a sprocket-wheel 31. A stub-shaft 32 is also journaled in a bearing in the said upright and is provided with a sprocket-wheel 33 and a crank 34, whereby it may be revolved. An endless sprocket-chain 35 connects the wheels 31 33.

In order to tamp or pack the concrete in the mold, I provide means for reciprocating the mold, which means comprises a horizontal shaft 42, mounted transversely in the uprights 2 and blocks 41 directly beneath the mold 3 and having secured to its central portion one or more cams 43, which when the said shaft is rotated or oscillated is adapted to engage the bottom or under side of the mold 3 to elevate the latter. The shaft 42 may be operated in any desired manner by machinery or by hand. As shown a crank-handle 4 is provided upon one of its outer ends for turning the same. It will be seen that normally the mold rests upon the blocks 41, as shown in the fullline positions in Figs. 1 and 3; but when the shaft 42 is rotated the cam or cams 43 will raise the mold from said block to the dottedline position shown in Fig. 1, and as said cam passes over the center of the shaft the weight of the mold and its contents will cause the same to drop back upon said blocks, thereby causing said contents to settle and pack within the mold. After the contents of the mold has been suffieiently packed or tamped by elevating and dropping the mold in this manner and it is desired to remove the molded block from the mold the latter may be secured upon the blocks 41 by a couple of pins 45 inserted in transverse openings formed in the uprights 2, as shown.

In the operation of the device the hoistingframe being in its lowered position and the plunger being raised the slide 26 isopen and permits the discharge of a suitable quantity of material from the discharge-neck of the feed-hopper into the mold. The material is then tamped or packed by operating the crankhandle 44, as previously described, and when the mold is set the pins 45 are inserted in the uprights 2 to hold the mold down, and the hoisting-frame is then raised, thereby causing the molded article to be lifted from the mold and carried to such a point that it may be readily moved longitudinally from the plates 4 onto one end of the traveler (S, as shown in Fig. 1, the molded article being indicated at m.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the acompauying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, p1o1 )ortion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a molding-machine, the combination of a verticallyanovable bottomless mold. a support therefor, a bottom plate for the mold, movable therein, means to move said bottom plate and to support the same against movement, and means to raise the mold from and to drop the same upon its support.

2. A molding-machinc, having a verticallymovable mold, open at its upper and lower sides, an element, movable vertically in the mold and forming a bottom and an ejector therefor, means to move said bottom and ejector element and to support the same against movement, means to supply material to the mold, a support for the latter, and means to raise the mold from and to drop the same upon its support.

3. A molding-machine having a verticallymovable mold, open at its upper and lower sides, a fixed support for the mold, means operative at will, to secure the mold against vertical movement, an element, movable vertically in the mold and forming a bottom and an ejector therefor, means to move said bottom and ejector element and to support the same against movement, means to supply material to the mold, and means to raise the latter from and to drop the same upon its support.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS PODA'IORIC.

\Vitnesses:

I'IARRY F. GEDDES, ELTON M. Gon 

